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Marine Debris Program Hosts Emergency Response Planning Workshop

APRIL 12, 2019 — On April 9 and 10, the Marine Debris Program (MDP) hosted a workshop in Silver Spring, Maryland, for divisions across the Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) to better understand roles and responsibilities both during and outside of emergency response.

During the one and a half day workshop, the 28 participants across all divisions of OR&R worked with the MDP to clarify the vision for marine debris responses. Discussions also included how the MDP and the other divisions of OR&R, the Emergency Response Division, Assessment and Restoration Division, Disaster Preparedness Program, and Business Services Group, can best coordinate during future emergency response operations. In addition, the MDP strived to reduce waste at the meeting by replacing single-use cups, plates, and utensils with reusable alternatives, using reusable chalkboard name tags, reducing food packaging by buying in bulk, and recycling flip chart paper and other printed materials.

Through the workshop, OR&R was better able to improve the understanding of different response roles across divisions and developed a comprehensive list of recommendations for enhanced coordination in future marine debris responses.